Professional Focus

Dr. Haas-Kogan's research interests have focused on dissection of the molecular pathogenesis of brain tumors and the cellular response to ionizing radiation. Glioblastoma Multiforme (GM), the highest grade malignant glioma, is a brain tumor that is nearly uniformly fatal. The most common genetic alteration in GM tumors is loss of heterozygosity of chromosome 10q, which is seen in approximately 90% of tumors. PTEN is a tumor suppressor gene that maps to chromosome 10q23. It is mutated in GM tumors as well as in a myriad of additional human malignancies. The research team has recently reported that PTEN regulates the activity of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (PKB) pathway, a signaling cascade implicated in cancer development. PTEN mutations in GM cell lines lead to increased, dysregulated PKB activity. Since PTEN mutations have been identified in many human malignancies, including 20-40% of GM tumors, the data implicate dysregulation of the PI3K/PKB pathway as a key mediator of human carcinogenesis.

Dr. Haas-Kogan seeks to define how PTEN mutations contribute to the pathogenesis of GM tumors and explore the therapeutic potential of gene-therapy approaches designed to target the dysregulated PI3K/PKB pathway. In the laboratory component of their work the team is exploring the mechanism by which PTEN arrests cell cycle progression in G1 phase and increases protein expression of the cdk inhibitor p27Kip1. In the translational portion of the research they are attempting to define the clinical relevance of PTEN mutations in primary GM tumors. Furthermore, they are currently evaluating the in vivo anti-neoplastic activity of therapies designed to inhibit the PI3K/PKB signal transduction pathway. Dysregulation of the PI3K/PKB cascade in a large proportion of GM tumors establishes this pathway as an important target for therapeutic intervention. The hope is that these studies may allow the use of PTEN and the PI3K/PKB signal transduction cascade as a molecular point of intervention in the treatment of GM tumors.

In a parallel project the research team is investigating the underpinnings of the molecular response to ionizing radiation. Using cDNA expression arrays they have reported that components of the TNF-signaling pathway, TRADD and caspase 8, are transcriptionally activated by radiation in glioma tumors and play an important role in p53-independent apoptosis. Through these complementary lines of investigation they hope to identify molecular targets for novel gene therapies as well as improve standard treatments for glioma tumors, such as ionizing radiation.

Education

1986

Harvard University

AB

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, magna cum laude

1991

UCSF

MD

School of Medicine

1991-1992

California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco

Internship

Internal Medicine

1992-1994

UCSF

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

1994-1997

UCSF

Resident

Radiation Oncology

1996

UCSF

Chief Resident

Radiation Oncology

Professional Experience

2008-present

UCSF

Professor

Radiation Oncology

2002-2008

UCSF

Associate Professor

Radiation Oncology

1997-2002

UCSF

Assistant Professor

Radiation Oncology

1996-1997

UCSF

Chief Resident

Radiation Oncology

Awards & Honors

1985

Joseph L. Barrett Award for Teaching, Harvard University

1986

Phi Beta Kappa, Harvard University

1986

Thomas T. Hoopes Prize awarded to Senior Honors Thesis

1986

Summa cum laude awarded to Senior Honors Thesis

1991

Alpha Omega Alpha, University of California, San Francisco

1995

ASTRO Basic Scientist Research Award

1995

Junior Scientist Travel Award, 10th International Congress of Radiation Research

1995-1996

American Cancer Society Clinical Oncology Fellowship

1997-1998

Radiological Society of North America Scholar Award

1998

UCSF Dean representative to Association of American Medical Colleges Professional Development Seminar for Junior Women Faculty, Santa Fe, New Mexico

1999

Pfizer Scholars Grant for New Faculty

1999

First place: CAP competition, General Clinical Research Center National Meeting; Arlington, VA

1999

UCSF-Mount Zion Clinical Investigator Award

1999

American Society of Clinical Oncology Career Development Award

2002

Henry J. Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching, UCSF School of Medicine

2002

UCSF Nominee for Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Humanism in Medicine Award

2003

Nominated for Teaching Award, UCSF School of Medicine

2004

Nominee: Henry J. Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching, UCSF School of Medicine

2005

Selected one of Best San Francisco Doctors for San Francisco Magazine, January 2005

2006

Alpha Omega Alpha, nominated by Medical Student Class of 2007 for AOA membership in the alumni category at UCSF

2010-2011

America's Top Oncologists 2010

2010

Nominee: UCSF Medical Center’s Exceptional Physician Award

2010

Best Doctors Marin Magazine

2012

Caring Tree Award of the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital; From Families to Caregivers

2012

Top Doctor in San Francisco, CA by International Association of Radiologists